Honey Bee Murder by Dahlia Donovan

TITLE: ⟫ Honey Bee Murder

AUTHOR: ⟫ Dahlia Donovan

RATING: ⟫ 2.5/5

SERIES: ⟫ Honey Bee Cosy Mysteries

BLURB: ⟫ George Bernard Sheth plans to spend July in the garden with his beloved pug, Bumble. He’s tending to his bees when a neighbour harasses him quite vocally. When the man winds up dead, all eyes are immediately on George and the many hives in his garden.

Murphy Baird knows without a doubt George wouldn’t harm a fly or a bee or an obnoxious rich businessman. He balances keeping his brewery going with trying to help solve the murder and preparing for the upcoming Highland Games. It’s not made any easier by the impending visit from his father.

As the mystery deepens, they find themselves not knowing quite who to trust. Can they find the killer before George winds up arrested for murder?

REVIEW: ⟫ I should preface this by saying that I didn’t realise that there was a book one. Once I realised that, I had to accept that I might be a little on the back foot with regards to the characters and dived in.

Not having read the first book was not much of a hindrance with regard to the characters – it’s made very clear who everyone is, how they’re related to everyone. The main character of George is neurodivergent, and this plays quite the role in his interactions with other people. It was quite heartening the way that the people around George understood the limitations he was under, supporting him in whatever way was necessary – there was quite the vein of love and affection that played out throughout the story.

The murder mystery was a little weak – simply the fact that George has bees should not really have made him a suspect. As George opines slightly dramatically, how is he meant to ‘control his bees’? I understood that the police had to investigate all claims but it just seemed a bit too exaggerated – at least in my opinion. Also, it wasn’t so much that I couldn’t tell who had committed the murder in that I didn’t care, which isn’t a great sign in a murder mystery romance.

I also felt that there was very little romance in the story. George and Murphy are a newly established couple and I expected more demonstrations of affection. I didn’t feel very much chemistry between the two male leads and there was no sex scenes to speak of. Murphy made little to no impression at all – he was the vague representation of a big, solid, protective male who was very involved in his brewery and loved his parents/family and George. Apart from that, I feel like I learned more about the pug, Bumble, than I did Murphy. It made his character more than a little one-dimensional and that was a shame.

My overall impression of this book is that it reminded me very much of an episode of a slow, easy, country life-style mystery along the lines of Murder She Wrote – easy viewing for everyone but nothing about it was particularly memorable. The writing itself was stilted and didn’t flow as easily as it might but I’m not sure if that was meant to be a representation of George or was simply the writer’s style.

If you’re looking for an easy, comfort read without little to no spice and a side-plot murder mystery, I can see people enjoying this book. I received an ARC from GRR.

Bad Pucking Influence by Michele Lenard

TITLE: ⟫ Bad Pucking Influence

AUTHOR: ⟫ Michele Lenard

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Thor meets Tony Hawk in this comedic, low-angst/high spice MM romance about a serious hockey goalie who is drawn out of his shell by a bratty skateboarder, a dare involving cake, and a lesson in how to use joysticks-for video games of course.

On the surface, I’ve got it all. I’m the starting goalie and Captain of the Colorado Bulldogs hockey team. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with. I can count an entire team of elite athletes as my friends. And according to the pundits, I’m an eligible bachelor.

That's the image everyone sees, but it’s just a role I play. A part dictated by my career. I have to be just as perfect off the ice as I am on it since everything I do reflects on my team in some way or another. So, those questions I have about why I don’t crave sexual contact the way my teammates do–questions I’m afraid to ask with the world watching… I decided a long time ago it didn’t make sense to look for answers until after I retire.

Then I ran into him.

Tripp is loud, obnoxious, and full of confidence. Some people find his sass off-putting, but not me. I find it intriguing, and I admire his ability to be himself, consequences be damned. Apparently, I also admire the way he looks, since my eyes seem to linger on him longer than they should, and when he sets his sights on me…

Waiting for retirement to explore who I am seems like too big a sacrifice, so when Tripp offers to help me answer some of those questions about myself, I jump.

I'm tired of pretending to be Mr. Perfect… Tripp and his playboy antics might be just the thing I need to figure out who I am outside of hockey. The only problem is, everyone–including our mutual friends–see him as a bad pucking influence.

Bad Pucking Influence is a low-angst, high-spice MM romance featuring a hockey player and a brat, not a hockey book featuring a romance. Fans of bratty playboys and gentle giants will enjoy this light-hearted, steamy yet touching love story.

REVIEW: ⟫ This story was an absolute hoot! I don’t think there was a single sexual thought that crossed Tripp’s mind that he didn’t let out of his mouth and I am SO here for it. As was Noah.

I really enjoyed reading this journey of discovery – for both men – as Noah realises that he isn’t broken just because he’s not wired the same way as other people, and Tripp realises that letting somebody in might just be worth it. I enjoyed the background characters and will be looking out for books featuring them. The sex scenes were numerous, entertaining and inventive (just as Tripp likes them!), and the small side plot near the end didn’t derail things which I was pleased about.

I very much enjoyed reading this and will definitely be looking for more by this author.

I received an ARC from GRR.

The Deliverance of Marek Sommers by Ashlyn Drewek

TITLE: ⟫ The Deliverance of Marek Sommers

AUTHOR: ⟫ Ashlyn Drewek

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

SERIES: ⟫ Spin-off from the Solnyshko Duet

BLURB: ⟫ Marek Sommers is everything Misha Chernyshevsky shouldn’t want—young, angry at the world, and, worst of all, a man. The fact Marek is dealing drugs for a competitor is the icing on the cake. None of that deters the Russian mafia boss, though.

From the moment he lays eyes on the surly bartender, Misha is captivated. Learning about Marek’s troubled past and fearing for his future, Misha is certain that Marek needs his help—whether he wants it or not.

Convincing Marek to trust him, however, proves to be a more formidable task than Misha anticipates. But if they have any chance of surviving the brutal world of the Russian mafia, Misha needs Marek to trust him before it’s too late. THE DELIVERANCE OF MAREK SOMMERS is a slow-burn MM romance about a down-and-out bartender with a harrowing past and the Russian mafia boss determined to save him from it all. Violence and heartache make the tender moments that much sweeter, HEA guaranteed. It is intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list of triggers can be found in the front matter of the book and at my website under Tropes & Triggers.

This book can be read as a stand-alone. However, it is a spin-off from the Solnyshko Duet and contains spoilers for those books if you haven’t read them.

REVIEW: ⟫ The Solnyshko Duet was the first experience of Ashlyn Drewek so finding out that Misha who featured in that duet had his own story made this a no-brainer. And like that duet, this book did not disappoint.

It would easy to get dragged down into the hell that life appears to be for Marek Sommers – he’s doing everything he can to take care of his siblings and save them from his nightmare of a mother, and yet he can’’t seem to catch a break. Throw in an abusive ex-lover who is determined to get Marek back and it’s perfectly obvious why Marek doesn’t trust Misha and everything he’s offering. I absolutely adored how stoic and consistent Misha would – he made himself a constant presence in Marek’s life, always there to lend a hand, a place to stay – something Marek hasn’t experienced.

It was even more touching with the fact that Misha was risking his life in how he was handling things with Marek – there was little doubt made of the fact that Sergei would have expected Misha to be more blunt in his discussions with Marek. The further insights into the views of the old-fashioned Russian brigade with regard to homosexual relationships and what they meant about the men involved with them were fascinating, albeit wince-inducing.

I loved the characters, especially Misha’s bodyguards who were incredibly loyal to him I also really enjoyed the fact that the brutal aspects of Misha’s life were not brushed over – from him making love with Marek with a single-minded determination to make everything about him juxtaposed with him handing out justice to the people who deserved it was handled extremely well.

There was a cameo from the Wolf and I loved the interactions between him and Marek – they made me laugh, especially after Misha got shot! The children in the story were written as children, not mini-adults which can often be the case. The slow burn was just long enough to make the interactions between Marek and Misha sizzle just that little bit more, and it was extremely satisfying watching them building such a normal relationship. Even after the truth of what Misha has done to get information out of Marek there wasn’t a miscommunication – Marek knew enough about the world to accept what Misha had done and why, and even appreciate the avenues he chose not to take.

This is a brutal mobster love story, very engaging, with excellent relationship building and a satisfying ending and merely confirmed my love for Ashlyn Drewek’s skilful writing.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Ben by Cora Rose (Unexpected #8)

TITLE: ⟫ Ben

AUTHOR: ⟫ Cora Rose

RATING: ⟫ 3/5

SERIES: ⟫ Unexpected #8

BLURB: ⟫ It’s often said that everything is impossible until it’s done.

And while I’ve always known my infatuation with Cash and Ford was meant to remain an unfulfilled dream, I never really lost hope.

Hope that the two men, twice my age, would ever see me as more than just a kid. As more than just their best friend’s son.

But I’m not a kid any more, and at twenty-one, they’re about to see that little meek and quiet Ben is old enough for many things. Old enough to finally attract their attention. And frankly, old enough to know better. To know that these stolen touches and lustful trysts behind closed doors could never really amount to more.

Because everything will crumble as soon as Cash, Ford, and my father find out what I’ve been up to. That I’ve been keeping secrets from them all.

I can’t possibly keep them both.

I can’t keep them at all.

I know our love is impossible.

But, god help me, when has that ever stopped me?

REVIEW: ⟫ I find myself agreeing with another review that I saw that said this book could have just been a smutty novella without the unnecessary side-plots. Basically, this book was a sexfest from start to finish – not a bad thing by any means, but after a while I found myself wanting something more.

Ben was a confusing character for me. His insistence on secrecy made sense initially – having two best friends who happen to be your father’s age/friends and having sex with both of them secretly is a humdinger. I appreciated the fact that he told both Cash and Ford upfront that he wasn’t exclusive with either of them, thereby avoiding any hint of actual cheating. However, once the cat was out of the bag with those two, and it became increasingly obvious that Dean just wanted to connect with Ben and wouldn’t judge him, the concern about his father’s views seemed a little overblown and like padding that the story didn’t need.

I loved the dynamic between Ben, Ford and Cash – although I felt that their behaviour at the party was more than a little outrageous – and would probably have enjoyed this book more if it had been shorter. Full of Cora Rose’s standard banter, inner dialogue and interesting side-characters, this was well written but I do think it could have been much shorter and had a little more relationship development and a little less sex!

Cute as Cats by Suki Fleet

TITLE: ⟫ Cute as Cats

AUTHOR: ⟫ Suki Fleet

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Meet-cute in a cat cafe, but oh no! there's a storm and they're trapped together...Zu has spent his life wishing he wasn’t so big and awkward and always making a mess of things. When he gets stood up by his date at a cat café one rainy Christmas eve, it turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to him. He finds himself exchanging flirty glances with Kiitan, the café’s slender pudding chef. But when they start to talk, Kiitan tells Zu he’s deaf and Zu’s shyness get the better of him, and his worry about messing up makes him do just that. Gathering his courage, Zu vows to wait until the end of Kiitan’s shift to make it up to him. But as the streets around the café start to flood, the café closes early to make sure everyone can get home, and Zu thinks his chance is gone. Until he sees Kiitan is staying behind to protect the café’s cats. Ignoring all the ways things could go wrong, Zu does the only thing that feels right—he takes a chance and offers to help him. This contemporary Christmas short story has gay, pansexual, disability rep and a HEA. An earlier version of this story was available as part of the Rainbow Christmas Advent in 2022. This is an extended and updated version of that story.

REVIEW: ⟫ I admit it, I picked up this book because of the cats and the meet-cute premise! I went to a Cat Cafe for my 50th birthday with my kids and we had an absolute blast!

This novella is sweet, cute and all of those words that are appropriate for this time of year. It contains a lot of representation for such a short story: disability representation, gay, pansexual – but all of it is just part of the story rather than a big deal. Obviously there isn’t a lot of space for character/world building and it was a little instant-love – basically Zu and Kiitan fall in love over the course of a (very busy and traumatic) day. If you ignore that aspect of things if it doesn’t work for you, then this is a simple tale of two men meeting and liking each other, working together to keep cats safe, and a little bit of sexy-touching to round things off. A really nice read and a good start to my Christmas reading!

I received an ARC from GRR.

His Sinful Need by Leighton Greene (West Coast Mobsters #4)

TITLE: ⟫ His Sinful Need

AUTHOR: ⟫ Leighton Greene

SERIES: ⟫ West Coast Mobsters #4

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Two men. Two Families. Too many secrets.

When Castellani security specialist Max Pedretti is reluctantly loaned out to the Esposito Family, he's thrust into close quarters with their youngest Capo, Bricker Soldano. The magnetic pull between them is undeniable, but Bricker is strictly off-limits, for multiple reasons.

For one thing, he's an Esposito.

For another, he's half Max's age.

But most of all, because Max shares a hidden criminal history with Bricker's father—a secret that could shatter the tentative trust building between them.

So Max vows to focus on the job instead, and finds his old skills as a bank robber are put to the test as he works with Bricker and his crew on a heist that could change the power dynamics in Los Angeles.

But when a tragedy reveals a mole in their midst, Max and Bricker must investigate together to uncover the truth, blurring the lines of loyalty and desire.

Can Max and Bricker uncover the traitor and find their way to love, or will past sins cost them everything?

***

Each book in this series tells the love story of a different couple who find their happy ending, as well as a resolution to the mystery they're investigating, but there are cliffhangers to the wider suspense plot for the series.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Unholy Trinity by Garrett Leigh (Rebel Kings #6)

TITLE: ⟫ Unholy Trinity

AUTHOR: ⟫ Garrett Leigh

SERIES: ⟫ Rebel Kings #6

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ A full steam, page-turning Poly Romance. Why Choose one book boyfriend when you can have two? Satisfy your romantic cravings with this heart-pounding hurt/comfort love story.

The vice-president of the Rebel Kings MC.

The girl of his dreams.

And the six-foot-five firefighter-turned-bodyguard they can’t resist.

Nash

It’s three in the morning, and we’re in her bed. My body throbs from his mouth on me, my blood still whooshing in my ears.

I want to make him feel like this, so I can drown in it.

So I can drown in him.

Goddamn, I want to suffocate in every fibre of Locke Halliwell with the woman I love at my side.

He has me fragile already.

She has me in pieces at her feet.

And man alive, I wish that was all I had to worry about.

But this life. It’s vicious. It’s deadly. And if I can’t protect every soul I’ve ever loved from the past, the future is already in ashes at my feet.

Unholy Trinity is the sixth instalment in the bestselling Rebel Kings MC series. An MMF romance with strong MM romance content, hurt/comfort, angst, found family, forced proximity, single dad, and friends-to-lovers tropes.

Content warnings for everything you’d expect from a biker romance.

REVIEW: ⟫ Good Lord, this book! Talk about steamy! Unlike the rest of the series, this book is clearly a threesome from the very beginning, with both Orla and Nash making sure that Locke knows that this is not just for fun – this has Feelings with a capital F. The chemistry between the three of them is off the charts, with the physical side of things being a very clear merging of all of them rather than them just pairing off randomly.

The background knowledge provided on Nash and Orla – she having faced the threat of SA from an early age, he growing up with parents that thought being gay/bisexual was wrong – helped to explain why neither of the have acted on their feelings for Nash previously. However sex-positive they both might be, they have their own issues. Locke is a gigantic marshmallow wrapped in the body of a sex-God, with the mouth and experience to know how to man-handle someone and make them like it. He also has an extremely tragic backstory that just about broke my heart.

I knew I was in trouble when I was nearly 89% of the way through the book and the main ‘storyline’ had still not been resolved. What I was not expecting was that cliffhanger – I’m surprised Garrett Leigh didn’t hear my scream of outrage! I’m in two minds as to whether or not I wish I had waited until the second part of this one is out – I wasn’t aware that there was going to be a cliffhanger so that does explain some of my pain/sorrow/outrage.

This is yet another stunning story from Garrett Leigh and I highly recommend reading it. You definitely need to have read the rest of the Rebel Kings series because otherwise all of the names/partners/relationships could quickly get muddled. If you’re squeamish about heterosexual encounters in your MM literature, then this is NOT the book for you – the scenes involving Orla are just as explicit as those involving Nash and Locke (definitely here for the PAN/Bisexual representation), written beautifully and evocatively as always.

Now I just have to wait for the next instalment! I received an ARC from GRR.

When The Law Needs Help by Jackie Keswick (Dwight and Conrad Case Files #1)

TITLE: ⟫ When The Law Needs Help

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jackie Keswick

SERIES: ⟫ Dwight and Conrad Case Files #1

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Can love, loyalty, and family step in when the law needs help?

Join Jack Horwood and Gareth Flynn as they tackle murder, secrets, and moral dilemmas in a world where the law isn't always enough - while finding comfort in each other and their home-made family.

The first volume of Dwight & Conrad Case-files stories includes:

Mouse Hunt: When a friend's death and old secrets collide, Jack has no choice but to step up and help.

A Very Bagpuss Christmas: Can adopting a cat really cause so much heartache that Jack considers escaping to Tokyo? Can Gareth fix what's going wrong?

Grand Union Hunt: Gareth lives to help people. But should he obey the law or follow his conscience?

When the Law Needs Help is a collection of three stories set in and featuring the characters from the Power of Zero world.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a very interesting set of short stories, set in the Power of Zero universe. It was really excellent to be back with Jack and Gareth, to fall back into their world and be swallowed up by the fascinating life they lead.

Jack has always been such a vulnerable character to me, and I worried about him being away from Gareth, Daniel and Nico whilst dealing with his grief from the death of one of the few people in his life that he has been able to rely on. I loved all of the small details that help immerse you in the world – you could almost feel like you were the home they had built for themselves, watching as they used their skills to help people who might otherwise not have a voice.

Before reading, I wondered if I should try to do a quick recap on the previous books, but the details came flooding back as soon as I began reading. Not that re-reading the previous books would have been onerous – I had almost forgotten Jackie Keswick’s ability to throw you in at the deep end whilst ensuring that you could keep up with what was going on – a deft hand is used to keep you interested in the spy/drug dealing/murderous goings on whilst concentrating on the things that matter – the relationships being revealed on page.

This is not a traditional MM romance – Gareth and Jack are an established couple with a rich history – but it was enjoyable to see them working and growing together, with the compromises and promises that they have made to make their relationship work, and the way that they are still learning about each other. I’m quite looking forward to reading more of the Dwight and Conrad Case-files – if you are looking for an immersing, absorbing read with great characters and interesting stories, you can’t go wrong with this series.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Clueless Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James (Puckboys #5)

TITLE: ⟫ Clueless Puckboy (Puckboys #5)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Eden Finley & Saxon James

RATING: ⟫ 4/5

BLURB: ⟫ Quinn

Straining my groin is bad enough. It puts my hockey career, my future, but even worse, my dignity on the line. Having to get massages in that area from Vance Landon, one of the team trainers, is mortifying. It’s impossible to hide my feelings toward him. If my constant blushing and bumbling doesn’t give it away, my body does. It’s getting to the point where I wonder if hockey is even worth the embarrassment.

Trying to avoid him only makes him seek me out more. He’s determined to rehab my injury, but all I want is for him to leave me alone. Or fall for me. One or the other.

Vance

Ayri Quinn isn’t your typical jock … except for the fact he refuses to admit when he’s injured. I’ve seen more than enough professional sportsmen lose the career they love due to injury, and I’m not having it happen again. Especially not when the guy in question happens to be the sweetest, most awkward, innocent jock I’ve ever met.

When a night out leads to Quinn re-injuring himself, I create a care plan that keeps me hands on, literally. Unfortunately, working with him in close proximity brings all those feelings I’ve been trying to ignore to the surface. I just need to get him better so he can be back on the ice and out of my bed. Ah, my massage bed. Because if this goes on any longer, I might mean my actual bed. Ayri Quinn is impossible to resist.

REVIEW: ⟫ This was a lovely, low-angst, amusing read in the style we’ve come to expect from the authors.

Poor Quinn – I felt for him, especially with the heckling he received for his facial hair and just in general. Add to that his complete and utter inability to use his words when around Vance and he made me laugh far too much. Vance not realising the reason for Quinn’s ‘man reactions’ whenever he worked on him also made me laugh, especially when it became obvious that absolutely everyone else knew what was going on.

I enjoyed this story – I liked the way it played out with everyone being adult about things, no ridiculous misunderstandings and people using their words. Amusing, sexy and fresh, this was a lovely read and an excellent addition to the Puckboy series.

The Fishermen by C.P. Harris (Infidelity #2)

TITLE: ⟫ The Fishermen

AUTHOR: ⟫ C.P. Harris

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ At the age of twenty-five, Leland Meadows has his whole life mapped out in front of him, with four rules to live by:

No new friends.

No dreams or aspirations.

No repeat hookups.

And definitely no committed relationships.

Leland’s looking for safety, not heartbreak and disappointment. Then one day he receives an offer he can’t turn down. Rent is due, and the catering company his best friend’s sister works for is suddenly one server short for the biggest event of the year. Leland accepts the job—but those rules he’s been so careful to follow? They don’t stand a chance against Franklin Kincaid.

At forty-five, the lie Franklin Kincaid has been living his entire life catches up with him.

His job no longer fulfils him—if it ever had.

His marriage is in crisis.

His heart yearns for something he can’t identify—or maybe he’s just too terrified to admit it.

And his children are clueless about all of it.

On a cold and lonely night, Franklin’s search for courage leads him to a rooftop in down-town Seattle, where he finds Leland Meadows instead.

Neither of them would ever be the same again…

***The Fishermen is a best friend’s dad MM romance and Book 2 in the Infidelity series. Each book features a new couple, can be read as a stand-alone, and ends with a HEA. Themes include age-gap, possessiveness, hurt/comfort, and second chances. Both MCs are consenting adults. Please use the Amazon “Look Inside” feature for a full list of content warnings.

REVIEW: ⟫ No one does messy relationships like C.P. Harris and boy, was this story full of messy relationships.

Having read the first book in the Infidelity series and grabbed hints about Leland and Franklin, I was confused by the start of this book. Had I misinterpreted what was going on? Were they not the people I was thinking they were? This misdirect was masterful – the story wouldn’t have had anywhere near the impact that it did if it wasn’t for (a) reading the first book and (b) the stellar writing.

Leland refuses to connect to anyone. Well, he allows himself one person but that’s it – his trust won’t extend further. So finding himself getting to know Franklin, telling him things that he hasn’t revealed ever before and falling into a ‘summer’ together was never on his radar.

Franklin is at a crossroads where his perfect looking life is beginning to crumble – along with the person that he presented to the world and kinda thought he was. How do you stay married to someone, live your life, when everything inside you is screaming for just a bit of freedom? He feels like a failure as a husband and a father and has no idea where to go from there. Taking Leland’s hand and ‘looking down’ is the beginning of a journey that he would in no way ever have been able to prepare for, or expect.

Oh man, this story took us down some dark paths and even though I fell down this rabbit hole willingly, I still wasn’t prepared for what was going to happen. Leland and Franky were so destructive, so blinded by their past and present that you could see the damage they were going to cause each other and yet you followed along with them. It was like watching a car crash between your fingers, feeling pain for the people involved in it, wanting to hug them, cry with them – coming out of this story felt like awakening from a different universe and the book hangover is real.

C.P. Harris is quite possibly the only person who could have me reading about infidelity and cheering on the adulterers – now THAT is talent. Told in three main parts, this book provides background to Jasper and Cole’s life growing up and just how much Franklin did to try to protect them from anything and everything. And because it’s an older protagonist, there is a lifetime of mistakes and experiences that Franklin regretted and wished he could change. All of this went into his relationship with Leland because Leland was absolutely the only person that Franky could be himself with. Not even just warts and all – Leland knew the good, the bad and the ugly about Franky but loved him anyway. Loved him fiercely and without reservation in a way that could only lead to hurt because neither of them were ready.

I worry that this review is just incoherent ramblings as I try to encourage people to read this story without ruining any of it. C.P. Harris is one of my auto-buys and hasn’t let me down once. Even when I’m shaking my head at the circumstances her characters get themselves into, I’m flipping pages desperate to see how things turn out. It really is brilliant writing to capture human nature whilst inspiring hope for the future – the world may be dark, people may let us down, cause us pain and damage, and yet hope remains. That is special.

I can’t leave this review without talking about the sex scenes. They were – well, almost feral and base and primitive. I don’t think I’ve ever read the kink that Franklin displays and was kinda shocked at how into it he was, but dang, it was hot af and suited his well-hidden caveman perfectly.

I need to go and read something light and fluffy to recover from this hangover, but I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I have an idea who might feature in it (and am SO here for it) but in the meantime, I heartily recommend this book. Just make sure you have tissues, time and an open mind before you start!

I received an ARC from the author.

The Face Man by Amy Lane (A Long Con Adventure)

TITLE: ⟫ The Face Man (Long Con Adventures)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Amy Lane

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Torrance Grayson has forged a solid independent journalism career with help from his friend and mentor, Felix Salinger, and he's relished being the face of the Salinger crew, exposing the corruption of the powerful while keeping his friends safe in their anonymity. But being face to face with the worst in the world takes its toll, and when Tor has a moment of weakness, it's the Salingers who come to bail him out.

During his recovery, Tor makes friends with the household's confident, charismatic young chef, Marco. Their quiet conversations make Marco more and more reluctant to confront Tor on the grave mistake the man is about to make in his current exposé—a mistake that can harm Marco's loud, boisterous family irrecoverably.

Tor is more than willing to listen—and to correct any mistakes. He's seen graphic proof that he's not infallible, and he'll go to any lengths to avert tragedy. But as Tor works toward the truth of what's happening with Marco's family, Marco begins to develop deep suspicions about the people they both work for. Torrance Grayson is in deep with the Salingers, and Marco isn't sure he should know any more than necessary about people who seem to be great bosses but shady citizens.

In order to help Marco, Tor needs to trust him—and that means to trust him with the truth of the Salinger Crew, as well as with his heart. But in a world of capers and crime-fighting, trust, it appears, is worth more than gold and jewels. Tor can expose crime and injustice with impunity, but can he expose his heart to Marco, a man who desperately wants in?

REVIEW: ⟫ Okay, I defy anyone to read this and not want to give Tor a humongous hug, followed by some of Marco’s delicious food because he needs to know that we love all of him and not just how gorgeous he is!

I was fascinated by this read because it references the previous book and we get to see the aftermath – our fabulous team are a little bruised and battered, showing their humanity and just how broken they are, whilst also demonstrating incredibly well how they have each other’s backs and understand the demons that drive each of them.

I loved the introduction of Marco’s cousins; Tor’s cameraman Phil was a quiet favourite of mine; Josh is beginning to recover fully which has me squeeing with delight because that means he and Liam can move past ‘potential’ to full on LOVE; Grace continues to break my heart and give me hope – the whole team is here and in full effect and this was a fantastic ride.

Marco and Tor were beautiful together and I adored the way that Marco took control of Tor, let him know that he was loved and wasn’t too proud to go to any of the others for help in figuring out his man. The sex scenes between them were alternately hot, steaming and just so damned touching – phew! This book – the con, the parties, the descriptions of the grift along with the family and lover dynamics was exactly what I needed. Just absolutely perfect – if you know Amy and have read any of the rest of the Long Con Adventures, then you know what to expect.

Literally read this in one day (I will apologise to my cats for the disruption to normal attention levels) and I plan to grab all of the Long Con Adventures and read them ALL in one go (when my TBR goes down). No surprise that this was a five for me!

I received an ARC from the author.

Arranged by Fate by Jacey Davis

TITLE: ⟫ Arranged by Fate

AUTHOR: ⟫ Jacey Davis

RATING: ⟫ 3.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Alpha Orion Strongfire: The last thing I wanted was to marry one of the Inwood omegas. Or anyone really. But the choice had been taken from me. This arranged marriage was the only thing that stood between my family and complete ruin after my father’s scandals nearly caused irreparable damage to my family’s reputation and our business empire. I could care less about the business, but I refused to allow my mother and siblings to be vulnerable and without protection, so I guess I was getting married.

I may not have wanted an omega to care for, but one brush of my lips against Lyric’s and all of that changed. He was mine and I would burn down the world before letting him go.

Omega Lyric Inwood: I was not looking forward to being under the control of Orion Strongfire. The Strongfire alphas had a reputation, and it wasn’t a good one. But omegas had no power and this union was the only way I could protect my family.

I never believed in fated mates, but just moments after meeting Orion, it was impossible to deny the connection. For better or worse, it seemed fate destined me to belong to Orion.

This was originally featured in the anthology, Tying the Knot. It has been expanded into a full-length novel with over 30k additional content added. Arranged By Fate is book one in an alternate reality non-shifter MM omegaverse series all based around arranged marriages and marriages of convenience.

Arranged by Fate is a high-heat, insta-lust omegaverse romance. While each book in this series ends in an HEA for the main characters, with no cliffhanger, there is an overarching plot that will continue throughout. It is an alternate reality omegaverse with adult themes and explicit content. It is not meant for those under 18. While MPreg is possible it does not occur in this book. This is a world where omegas have very little rights and are essentially owned by their alpha guardian or mate. There is also a biological kink element where alphas are biologically inclined towards dominance while omegas are inclined to submission.

CW: domestic discipline, power exchange, kink elements such as spanking, mentions of child abuse and spousal abuse (not between main characters), some on page violence, SA (not between main characters). Please read the content warning at the beginning of the book for a full list of triggers and kinks.

REVIEW: ⟫ There were many elements of this story that worked for me – the premise of an arranged marriage where neither party was completely willing, the fated mate idea, an omega being able to calm their alpha down – lots of things for me to sink my teeth into.

The characters of Orion and Lyric were interesting together – they were both intelligent, caring men who were more than willing to accept what fate had thrown at them. They cared deeply about each other, were determined to make the best of things for themselves and their family members, and worked together extremely well.

The sex was – hmm, it’s hard to describe my reaction to the sex. I liked the scenes but there was something missing. They should have been burn the page up hot, but for some reason they just didn’t resonate with me. I enjoyed the different kinks including spanking and dominance, but somehow the scenes still came across as perfunctory. I don’t even know why and kinda assumed it was me rather than the story.

The sub-plot involving Orion’s father was interesting enough but some of it didn’t make sense. His father was the one pushing for the arranged marriage, so his actions afterwards didn’t make sense to me and I wasn’t quite satisfied with the explanation given. Overall, I’m not sure how I felt about this book – the ideas ticked a lot of boxes but the execution didn’t quite do it for me but YMMV.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Candy Magic by M.C. Roth (All Hallows' Harem)

TITLE: ⟫ Candy Magic (All Hallows Harem)

AUTHOR: ⟫ M.C. Roth

RATING: ⟫ 2/5

BLURB: ⟫ An All Hallows’ Harem story

Sweeter than candy—hotter than magic.

Crean is trying to leave it all behind—the closet, his overbearing family and, of course, his magic. In a world where vampires and shifters are hidden among humans, Crean is the odd one out. Born as a human to a family of shifters, he’s been hiding his orientation and his magic for his entire life.

In search of a new start, he sets out on a journey to a different province. The only condition is he has to live with his brother and his three roommates.

Living with a vampire, a werewolf and a faerie is bound to be a disaster, and Crean does his best to avoid the strangers. But everything he’s been told about others is wrong, and his life is about to change forever.

REVIEW: ⟫ This book had such an interesting blurb that I went into it with high hopes. Unfortunately, for me, this book simply didn’t follow through.

There were so many titbits thrown at us – from Crean’s magic and what happened when he used it; Tristan and his wings; Nate and his general dislike of humans – and yet none of them went anywhere. They felt thrown into the air and just left there. Not such a big deal until you realise that the whole thing about Crean and his magic is part of why he left home, but we are never told just what happened.

The relationships between all of the characters were murky and shallow – these guys were meant to be Crean’s brother’s best friends and yet not one of them seriously considered how their friend might feel about their four-some relationship with Crean. Hardly loyalty.

We don’t really learn anything about how the supernatural came to be known – or why – and there seems to be no lingering issues with prejudice or fear. Crean being desperate to escape from his smothering family yet we don’t witness one single instance of them being that way or hindering him. The whole story was incredibly shallow and we were told so much was happening and yet didn’t witness any of it.

The sex scenes were perfunctory and felt passionless, and even though the idea of asexuality was sort of thrown out there with regard to Tristan, it wasn’t explored at all. I guess what I’m saying is that if this was meant to be a sex-fest harem read, it failed in that perspective; as an examination of prejudice between species, it failed; to be completely honest, the whole book just failed for me.

I can’t see me reaching for any other books by this author, which is a shame as a quick flick through it looks like they really have some interesting ideas.

French Fancy by Lily Morton (The Model Agency #2)

TITLE: ⟫ French Fancy (The Model Agency #2)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Lily Morton

RATING: ⟫ /5

BLURB: ⟫ Pip Simmonds is the twinkiest twink in London. He’s loud, proud, and packed to the brim with sass. But when he’s laid low by illness, even his hotpants lose their sparkle and his worried boss sends him to the South of France to recuperate in his holiday home.

Cap Ferrat is beautiful, and the periwinkle-blue villa is luxurious, but the real draw for Pip is the villa’s other resident—his boss’s younger brother, Olivier Durand.

Olivier owns a perfume empire and has spent his whole life running from any other form of commitment. He’s worldly, carefree, wild, and the perfect choice for a holiday fling.

Drawn together by proximity, the two men become lovers and friends and then something more. Something special. But will their special bond hold true after summer’s end, when they both must return to their real lives?

This is the second book in the bestselling Model Agency series, but it can be read as a standalone.

REVIEW: ⟫ Currently reading – review to follow.

Not Dating Material by Saxon James (Accidental Love #2)

TITLE: ⟫ Not Dating Material (Accidental Love #2)

AUTHOR: ⟫ Saxon James

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ MOLLY

Moving to Seattle is supposed to be all about getting a fresh start and leaving the bitter man I was becoming behind.

I have new room-mates–quirky, sometimes strange, room-mates–a nosy, next door neighbor and a grumpy kitty for company, but even surrounded by people, I still don’t feel like I belong. Plus, it turns out the men in Seattle are exactly the same as the ones I left behind, and my string of romantic disconnections continues.

It’s not until one of my room-mates, Seven, hits me with some hard truths that I realize where I was going wrong.

Maybe the men aren’t the problem.

I am.

And there’s only one way to fix that.

SEVEN

Being found tied up naked to my bed by my cute new room-mate isn’t an ideal way for us to start a friendship.

But apparently a quid-pro-quo is.

He keeps his pretty lips zipped about the compromising position, and I step in as his dating coach. We go out, I point out where he’s going wrong, and he magically becomes dating material.

The problem is, between my codependent brother Xander and a new best friend I can’t get rid of, Molly and I are the target of a matchmaking scheme. My life is way too busy to add another person to it, and Molly is the kinda guy who needs to be made a priority, which I just can’t do. Xander’s medical anxiety takes up too much of my time, and I’ve never found a partner who doesn’t resent it.

I’m determined to help Molly find his ever after.

But that guy will never be me.

REVIEWS: ⟫ I really wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Molly after his appearance in Ford and Orson’s story, but Saxon made me feel so bad for him that I forgave his rash behaviour. He’s moved all the way to Seattle to get a fresh start, and what a start – meeting the boys from Big Bertha is an eye opener in so many ways.

I enjoyed how vulnerable Saxon allowed Seven to be – he presented as this big, tough guy, covered in tattoos and intimidating until you got to learn more about him. Refusing to swear, his badly hidden inner marshmallow and just the way he was always there for any of the boys (and Aggie) made me fall in love with him.

I liked the way in which the subject of Seven’s no dating rule was brought up – he thought he was being upfront, honest and direct whereas throughout the book, we see that HE might not have thought he was dating people, but others were not quite so sure.

There was background angst, especially with regard to Xander and Seven, but it didn’t really filter through to the main story – it more formed a background thread that you were aware of but didn’t have to suffer through. I loved the dates that Seven and Molly had; loved the way that Seven helped Molly build his confidence; the relationship between Molly, Seven and Xander; and the return to Big Bertha.

One of my favourite parts was when Madden asked Rush how come, if he wasn’t aware of the no-sleeping with room-mates rules, then how come he hadn’t made a move on Madden – that made me laugh so hard, although what a knock to Madden’s ego! I’m looking forward to more in the Accidental Love verse, especially after Seven met Molly’s dad and his initial reaction – that too made me giggle, and I loved the ease with which the two verses intermingled.

This book kept me entertained and gave me a HEA I could sigh happily about after reading and I can’t ask for more than that!